Protective helmet and face shield

ABSTRACT

A protective helmet and bubble type clear plastic face shield for operators of vehicles in which the bubble type shield is provided with a chin cover extending from the lower side and front edges of the bubble face shield inwardly to a point beneath the chin of the wearer of the helmet and shield to prevent entry of air blast beneath the shield into the wearer&#39;&#39;s nose and eyes and to prevent the blast of air from lifting or detaching the shield from its connection to the protective helmet. The chin cover is preferably made of leather or plastic, having a fastener extending axially from the central lower outer portion of the face shield to a mid-point of the inner edge portion of the cover to facilitate securing the cover beneath the chin of the wearer. If desired, the chin cover may be formed of material having a plurality of gussets of resilient stretch material to facilitate securing the same under the chin of the wearer, or may be formed entirely of a resilient cloth or similar material having stretch characteristics for passing over the chin of the user and resiliency for returning the same to a tight position under his chin.

United States Patent [191 Halteman PROTECTIVE HELMET AND FACE SHIELD[76] Inventor: Samuel Paul Halteman, 211 E. 15th St.,, Irving, Tex.75060 [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 211,992

[52] US. Cl 2/6, 2/206, 2/10 [51] Int. Cl A42b 3/00 [58] Field of Search2/8, 9, 10,3, 6, 205, 2/173, 206, 232, 231, 233, 234, 161 A [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 960,520 6/1910 Dysthe 2/2061,035,217 8/1912 McQuary, Jr.... 2/206 1,251,657 l/l9l8 Hart 2/61,309,783 7/1919 Slavin 2/206 1,356,542 10/1920 McNeill.... 2/6

1,505,978 8/1924 Stetson 2/6 2,554,991 5/1951 Kramer 2/161 A 3,239,8423/l966 Marchello.... 2/3 R 3,307,202 3/1967 Schuessler 2/173 3,310,8113/1967 lacono, .lr. 2/6 3,588,914 6/1971 lhnat, .lr 2/205 3,668,7056/1972 Garbisch 2/173 Primary Examiner larnes R. Boler AssistantExaminerWai M. Chan 1 Apr. 30, 1974 7.] ABSTRACT A protective helmet andbubble type clear plastic face shield for operators of vehicles in whichthe bubble type shield is provided with a chin cover extending from thelower side and front edges of the bubble face shield inwardly to a pointbeneath the chin of the wearer of the helmet and shield to prevent entryof air blast beneath the shield into the wearers nose and eyes and toprevent the blast of air from lifting or detaching the shield from itsconnection to the protective helmet. The chin cover is preferably madeof leather or plastic, having a fastener extending axially from thecentral lower outer portion of the face shield to a mid-point of theinner edge portion of the cover to facilitate securing the cover beneaththe chin of the wearer. If desired, the chin cover may be formed ofmaterial having a plurality of gussets of resilient stretch material tofacilitate securing the same under the chin of the wearer, or may beformed entirely of a resilient cloth or similar material having stretchcharacteristics for passing over the chin of the user and resiliency forreturning the same to a tight position under his chin.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures "ATENTEUAPRBO 1m 3806; 951

INVENTOR Samuel P. Holtemqn ATTORNEY PROTECTIVE HELMET AND FACE SHIELDSUBJECT MATTER AND NATURE OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to newand useful improvements in protective helmets and face guards forvehicle operators.

It is one object of the invention to provide an improved helmet and faceguard having a chin cover extending from the lower front and side edgesof the face guard to a point beneath the chin of the wearer to prevententry of air blast beneath the face guard.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a chin guardextending from the lower front and side edge portions of bubble typeface guards to extend therefrom to a position beneath the chin of thewearer of the protective helmet and face guard to prevent air blastsfrom entering the nose and eyes'of .the wearer,

and to prevent the blast from spreading or loosening.

I face guard and the face of the wearer, and which ha s means permittingready application of the face guard and helmet to the head of thewearer.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide a helmet and faceguard with a chin cover of the character set forth having means forapplying and securing the chin cover beneath the chin of the wearer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a chin cover of thecharacter set forth having a zipper type fastener or slide fastener forsecuring non-resilient material of the chin cover beneath the chin ofthe wearer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a chin cover of thecharacter set forth having resilient means for securing the chin coverbeneath the chin of the wearer.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description ofa deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from below a protective helmet and faceguard having a chin cover applied thereto and showing thesame incondition to be applied to the head of the wearer;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 from the opposite sideand above the protective helmet, face guard and chin cover, showing thearrangement of the same with a visor to be detachably secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the protective helmet, face guard and chincover of FIG. 1, showing the same applied to the head of the user withthe chin cover secured in position for use;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the chin cover of FIG. 1 showing the slidefastener closed;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modified form of chin coverhaving resilient installing and retaining means thereon; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a further modified form ofthe chin cover formed of resilient material.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally a protective helmetor head gear formed of reinforced plastic of glass fiber, fabric, or thelike, in the well known manner, and commonly available. The head gearhas head engaging harness (not shown), and a pair of flexible plastic orleather ear flaps 11 extending below the lower edge 12 on each side ofthe protective head gear. The head covering or helmet has a face opening13, above which are provided a plurality of fasteners 14 for receivingand securing a bubble type transparent plastic face mask or guard 20 tothe helmet to extend downwardly below and in front of the face opening.If desired, a visor 15 may be secured by snap fasteners 16 to thefasteners14 on the helmet. A chin strap 17 is secured to one of the earflaps 11 by a buckle and snap fastener 18, and a similar buckle andfastener on the opposite ear flap of the helmet. A chin support 19 isadjustably positioned on the strap 17 and engages the chin of the wearerof the helmet and face guard, as shown in FIG. 3.

In use, the helmet and face guard alone produce unsatisfactoryconditions at the face of the wearer because the blast of air of a riderof a motorcycle or other vehicle enters beneath the lower edge 20a ofthe helmet face guard or mask 20 and strikes and enters the nose, mouthand eyes of the wearer. In addition, the blast entering behind thebubble type face mask tends to lift the outer edges thereof away fromthe sides of the helmet and the ear flaps l1, and in some casesdisengages the snap fasteners 14 from the helmet and loosens and blowthe face guard off the helmet. Frequently, the face guards are lost ordamaged so as to be useless in such event.

To prevent the foregoing disadvantageous actionof the entry of airblasts beneath the face guard, the chin cover of the invention isprovided. The chin cover comprises a substantially triangular body 25 offlexible material, such as leather or plastic or the like, which issecured at its side edges 26and 27, respectively, by adhesive, or anyother suitable type of bonding material or means, to the lower front andside edges of the face guard 20. The dimensions of the triangular chincover 25 are such that the rear or base portion 28 of the body willextend beneath the chin of the wearer to be positioned beneath the chinstrap and retainer pad 19 as shown in FIG. 3. The chin cover when wornas shown 1 in FIG. 3, therefore provides a positive ai'rdeflecting meanswhich prevents blasts of air from entering beneath the lower edge of theface guard and within the face guard to act on the bubble type faceguard tov release the same from the helmet. Also, the blast of air isprevented from blowing against the face, nose and mouth of the wearer,and into his eyes.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the chin cover'body 25 is slottedvertically to the base edge 28 thereof outwardly forwardly to a pointnear the forward lower edge of the face mask 20 and a slide fastener 29is secured in the slot to permit opening and closing the same forapplying and securely fastening the chin cover beneath the chin of theuser of the'helmet, face guard and chin cover. This fastener permitsapplying the chin cover readily beneath the chin of the wearer, and thendrawing the fastener to the closed position shown in It is believed alsoto be obvious that as shown in FIG. 5, rather than the slide fastener29, the chin guard may include a body 55 which is secured along itsedges 56 and 57 to the lower front and side edges of the bubble typeface guard and has its base 58 extending across from one edge to theother of the face mask. A plurality of triangular inserts or gussets 59,60, and 61 may be formed of any suitable stretch material, such asstretch nylon, dacron, or a double weave fabric, which yields and isresilient to return the body member to the tight position once the chincover has been moved beneath the chin of the wearer of the helmet andface protector.

In FIG. 6, the entire body 65 of the chin cover is formed of a body 65of stretch material secured along its edges 66 and 67 to the lower frontand side edges of the face mask or guard 20. The body of stretchmaterial will yield to permit the chin cover to be moved beneath thechin of the wearer of the helmet and face guard, and its resiliency willdraw the same to a tight position beneath the chin of the wearer whereit will be further held in place by the engagement of the chin strap andchin rest 19.

It will, therefore, be seen that a new and improved helmet and faceguard, having a chin cover extending from the lower front and side edgesof the face guard to a point beneath the chin of the wearer, has beenprovided to prevent entry of air blasts beneath the face guard and intothe face of the wearer, to prevent air blasts from entering the nose andeyes of the wearer, and to prevent the blasts from loosening the faceguard from the protective helmet. It will also be seen that a chin coveror guard has been provided with fitting, in-

stalling and retaining means which are sufficiently strong to hold thecover in position preventing the entry of air between the face guard andthe face of the wearer, which means permit ready application of the chincover with the face guard and helmet to the head of the wearer. It willalso be seen that the chin cover is provided with means for releasablysecuring the chin cover beneath the chin of the wearer of the helmet andface guard.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A chin cover and bubble type transparent plastic face guard adaptedto be detachably attached to a rigid impact resisting helmet headprotective having a face opening and ear and head protecting sides whichcomprises: a transparent plastic convexly bulbous face guarding maskhaving an upper edge joining convexly arcuate downwardly extending sideswhich merge with a pair of forwardly convergent lower edges joined in anarc at their forward convergent ends to form an arcuate forward edge;means for detachably affixing the upper edge of said mask to said helmetabove the face opening of said helmet to project downwardly therefrom infront of the face of the wearer of said helmet; a substantiallytriangular chin cover member formed of a flexible body of sheet materialhaving a rear base portion and converging side edges joining in anarcuate apex forward portion, said chin cover member being fixedlysecured at its side edges to the convergent lower edges of thetransparent plastic bubble face mask and at its apex to the arcuateforward lower edge of said face mask; said base extending transverselyhorizontally between the divergent rear ends of the lower edges of saidface mask; said chin cover being flexible and positioned to be disposedto tightly engage the chin of the wearer of the helmet when the helmetand face guard are disposed on the head of the wearer to close off entryof air blasts between the face guard and the face of the wearer of thehelmet and face guard.

2. A face mask and chin cover of the character set forth in claim 1wherein said chin cover includes: a slide fastener extendinglongitudinally from the rear base portion of the chin cover toward saidcurved apex of the convergent side edges of said chin cover near thearcuate forward lower edge of the face guard and providing means forfitting the base portion of the body of the chin cover tightly engagedbeneath the chin of the wearer of the helmet and mask and to secure thechin cover beneath the chin of the wearer.

3. A face mask and chin cover of the character set forth in claim 1wherein the chin cover comprises: a flexible body of air excludingmaterial having a plurality of triangular gussets of resilient materialin said body along the base thereof tapering toward the arcuate apexforward portion of the convergent side edges of the chin cover and thelower arcuate forward edge of the face guard from the rear base portionof the body of the chin cover, and yieldable to permit said base portionof the chin cover to be stretched to be fitted beneath and tightlyengage the chin of the wearer of the helmet.

4. A chin cover and bubble type clear plastic face guard adapted to besecured to a head protective helmet having a face opening and ear andhead protecting sides, comprising: a convexly bulbous transparentplastic face guarding mask having an upper edge joining convexly arcuatedownwardly extending sides which merge with a pair of forwardlyconvergent lower edges joined in an are at their forward convergent endsto form an arcuate forward edge; means for detachably affixing the upperedge portion of said mask to said rigid impact resisting helmet abovethe face opening to extend downwardly in front of the face of the wearerof said helmet; a chin cover formed of a body of flexible sheet materialhaving an inner rear base edge portion and forwardly convergent sideedge portions joining in an arcuate apex forward edge portion; said sideedge portions and arcuate forward edge portion of said chin cover beingfixedly secured to the convergent lower edges and the arcuate forwardedge of the bubble type plastic face guard, said chin cover body havingsaid inner rear base edge portion disposed to be positioned beneath thechin and near the throat of the wearer of said helmet and the arcuateapex forward edge portion disposed forwardly and spaced beneath the noseof the wearer of said helmet; means for adjustably disposing said bodyof flexible sheet material of said chin guard in position tightlyengaging the chin of the wearer of the helmet to deflect air fromentering between the face of the wearer of the helmet and the interiorof the face guard.

5. A combined face guard and chin cover for use with a rigid protectiveimpact resisting helmet for vehicle operators having a face openingincluding: a convexly bulbous transparent bubble type face guard havingan upper edge joining a pair of depending side edges merging at theirlower ends with a pair of rearwardly divergent lower edges joined in anarcuate apical forward lower edge; means for securing the upper edge ofsaid face guard to said helmet above the face opening to be disposed infront of the face of the wearer thereof; a

- chin guard comprising a body of flexible sheet material ofsubstantially triangular configuration having a rear base portion andforwardly convergent side edge portions joining in an arcuate apicalfront edge portion; means for fixedly securing the convergent side edgebeneath and in tight engagement with the chin of the wearer of thehelmet with the face guard and chin cover secured to the helmet.

1. A chin cover and bubble type transparent plastic face guard adaptedto be detachably attached to a rigid impact resisting helmet headprotective having a face opening and ear and head protecting sides whichcomprises: a transparent plastic convexly bulbous face guarding maskhaving an upper edge joining convexly arcuate downwardly extending sideswhich merge with a pair of forwardly convergent lower edges joined in anarc at their forward convergent ends to form an arcuate forward edge;means for detachably affixing the upper edge of said mask to said helmetabove the face opening of said helmet to project downwardly therefrom infront of the face of the wearer of said helmet; a substantiallytriangular chin cover member formed of a flexible body of sheet materialhaving a rear base portion and converging side edges joining in anarcuate apex forward portion, said chin cover member being fixedlysecured at its side edges to the convergent lower edges of thetransparent plastic bubble face mask and at its apex to the arcuAteforward lower edge of said face mask; said base extending transverselyhorizontally between the divergent rear ends of the lower edges of saidface mask; said chin cover being flexible and positioned to be disposedto tightly engage the chin of the wearer of the helmet when the helmetand face guard are disposed on the head of the wearer to close off entryof air blasts between the face guard and the face of the wearer of thehelmet and face guard.
 2. A face mask and chin cover of the characterset forth in claim 1 wherein said chin cover includes: a slide fastenerextending longitudinally from the rear base portion of the chin covertoward said curved apex of the convergent side edges of said chin covernear the arcuate forward lower edge of the face guard and providingmeans for fitting the base portion of the body of the chin cover tightlyengaged beneath the chin of the wearer of the helmet and mask and tosecure the chin cover beneath the chin of the wearer.
 3. A face mask andchin cover of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the chin covercomprises: a flexible body of air excluding material having a pluralityof triangular gussets of resilient material in said body along the basethereof tapering toward the arcuate apex forward portion of theconvergent side edges of the chin cover and the lower arcuate forwardedge of the face guard from the rear base portion of the body of thechin cover, and yieldable to permit said base portion of the chin coverto be stretched to be fitted beneath and tightly engage the chin of thewearer of the helmet.
 4. A chin cover and bubble type clear plastic faceguard adapted to be secured to a head protective helmet having a faceopening and ear and head protecting sides, comprising: a convexlybulbous transparent plastic face guarding mask having an upper edgejoining convexly arcuate downwardly extending sides which merge with apair of forwardly convergent lower edges joined in an arc at theirforward convergent ends to form an arcuate forward edge; means fordetachably affixing the upper edge portion of said mask to said rigidimpact resisting helmet above the face opening to extend downwardly infront of the face of the wearer of said helmet; a chin cover formed of abody of flexible sheet material having an inner rear base edge portionand forwardly convergent side edge portions joining in an arcuate apexforward edge portion; said side edge portions and arcuate forward edgeportion of said chin cover being fixedly secured to the convergent loweredges and the arcuate forward edge of the bubble type plastic faceguard, said chin cover body having said inner rear base edge portiondisposed to be positioned beneath the chin and near the throat of thewearer of said helmet and the arcuate apex forward edge portion disposedforwardly and spaced beneath the nose of the wearer of said helmet;means for adjustably disposing said body of flexible sheet material ofsaid chin guard in position tightly engaging the chin of the wearer ofthe helmet to deflect air from entering between the face of the wearerof the helmet and the interior of the face guard.
 5. A combined faceguard and chin cover for use with a rigid protective impact resistinghelmet for vehicle operators having a face opening including: a convexlybulbous transparent bubble type face guard having an upper edge joininga pair of depending side edges merging at their lower ends with a pairof rearwardly divergent lower edges joined in an arcuate apical forwardlower edge; means for securing the upper edge of said face guard to saidhelmet above the face opening to be disposed in front of the face of thewearer thereof; a chin guard comprising a body of flexible sheetmaterial of substantially triangular configuration having a rear baseportion and forwardly convergent side edge portions joining in anarcuate apical front edge portion; means for fixedly securing theconvergent side edge portions of the body of the chin cover to the lowerdivergent lower edGes of the face mask and the arcuate front edge ofsaid cover to the apical forward lower edge; and means along the baseportion of said body of said chin cover providing for securely fittingthe same beneath and in tight engagement with the chin of the wearer ofthe helmet with the face guard and chin cover secured to the helmet.